Apparatus for guiding hot metal stock



Oct. 14, 1952 Filed April 12, 1949 J. ZUBLENKO APPARATUS FOR GUIDING HOT METAL STOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOSEPH ZUBL E/VKO Oct. 14, 1952 J. ZUBLENKO 2,613,559

APPARATUS FOR GUIDING HOT METAL STOCK Filed April 12. 1949 s Sheets-Sheet. 2

/a q/ 4/ v 7 NW.

T 1 Jim W.

NTOR. JOSEPH ZUBLE/V/(o Oct. 14, 1952 J. ZUBLENKO APPARATUS FOR GUIDING HOT METAL STOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 12, 1949 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. JOSEPH ZUBLE/VKO Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR GUIDING HOT METAL STOCK Claims. 1

My invention relates to apparatus for guiding hot metal stock, such as bars or rods, from the exit of one set of rolls tol the entrance of a second set of rolls in mills in which the rolling direction is reversed during passage of the metal stock through the second set of rolls.

In rolling mills in which hot metal stock is passed in a reverse direction between alternate sets of rolls, it is the present practice to provide workmen at the exit of one set of rolls who grab the free end of the metal stock with tongs and bend it through an arc of 180 to cause it to enter the second set of rolls. Because the metal stock is hot and is travelling through the first set of rolls at a comparatively high rate of speed, such work is not only laborious but is dangerous and while attempts have heretofore been made to provide guides for directing the metal stock from the exit of one-set of rolls to the entrance of the next set of rolls, such guides are not very satisfactory because it is difficult to regulate the draft so that the rolling speed of both sets of rolls are equal and it is accordingly necessary to provide such draft in the second set of rolls that the stock will enter the second set of rolls at a lower speed than it leaves the first set of rolls. Under such circumstances, however, the metal stock has the tendency to fold upon itself and either falls out of the guide toward the floor or jumps over the guide under the influence oi the metal stock pushing itself ahead.

According to my invention, 1 have provided improved apparatus by means of which the free end of hot rolled metal stock, such as rods or bars, may be safely and economically transferred from the exit of one set of rolls to the entrance of a second set of rolls arranged to receive the metal stock at an angle of 18-9 from the rolling direction of the first set of rolls. During the transfer of the free end of the metal stock from the exit of one set of rolls to the entrance of the next adjacent set of rolls, means are also provided to support the loop of metal stock which is formed between the exit of one set of rolls and the entrance of the second set of rolls.

My invention will be better understood by ref erence to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a plan View of my improved apparatus, showing diagrammatically four sets of rolls with guides leading from the exit of each set of rolls to my improved apparatus and guides leading from the'apparatus to the entrance of adjacent sets of rolls;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view on an enlarged scale of the carriage or vehicle utilized in my apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the carriage or vehicle shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The manner in which my improved device is arranged to convey metal stock from the exit of one set of rolls to the entrance of a second set of rolls is shown diagrammatically in Fig. l of the drawings in which the numerals I, 2, 3 and t designate four sets of rolls through which the metal stock is designed to be passed during the rolling process. My improved apparatus is arouate in shape and is provided with one end which is arranged adjacent to and in alignment with one set of rolls and a second end which is arranged adjacent to and in alignment with a second set of rolls. For instance, in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the apparatus designated by the numeral 4 has one end in alignment with the exit of rolls I and its opposite end arranged in alignment with the entrance to rolls 2; the apparatus designated 4a has one end in alignment with the exit of rolls 2 and its opposite end in alignment with the entrance to rolls 3; and the apparatus designated by the numeral 42) has one end in alignment with the exit of rolls 3 and its opposite end in alignment with the entrance to rolls 4.

As illustrated more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, my improved apparatus comprises a base or support 5 of curved or arcuate shape to which is secured a guideway or track for a carriage or vehicle 6 which receives the free end portion of metal stock passing from the exit of rolls I and bends the metal stock as the carriage is propelled forwardly by the force of the. metal stock to thus bring the free end of the metal stock in alignment with the entrance to rolls 2, and in a like manner a second carriage arranged in the guideway or track of apparatus 4a receives the end of the metal stock from the exit of rolls 2 and bends the free end of the metal stock as vehicle ta. is moved in the guideway or track of apparatus 4a by the force of the metal stock into alignment with the entrance of rolls 3 and carriage 5b receives metal stock from the exit of rolls 3 and bends the free end of the metal stock as the carriage is propelled in the guideway or track by the free end of the metal stock until the free end of the metal stock is in alignment with the entrance to rolls 4. The number of apparatus utilized will of course depend upon the extent of the rolling process, it being understood than one such apparatus is arranged between the entrance and exit of each set of rolls.

The guideway or track in which carriage '6 travels may be formed in any desired manner. As illustrated more particularly in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings, the guideway or track is formed of an inwardly extending arcuate-shaped metal strip or flange welded or otherwise secured to the upper edge of support 5, a lower portion 8 having a downwardly extending flange 9 which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the base or support 5, and welded or otherwise secured to the lower portion 8 of the guideway is an upwardly extending portion ID of curved or arcuate shape provided with an inwardly extending flange l i. If desired, the flange I may be formed integral with support 5 and the inner side portion l may be formed integral wtih the lower portion 8. Flange 9 may also be welded to the base or support but is preferably removably secured thereto by threaded bolts or studs [2 provided with nuts to permit the guideway to be removed from the base or support for repairs or to permit the insertion of a guideway or track of a different size. The guideway thus formed is designated by the numeral :3. I

Carriage or vehicle 6 which travels in guideway or track I 3 has a rear open end I4 which receives the free end of metal stock from the exit of rolls l and is propelled forwardly in the guideway or track by the force of the metal stock emerging from the exit of rolls l and the carriage 6 in turn bends the free end of the metal stock durin its travel in the guideway.

' To prevent the metal stock from passing through the carriage 6, the front end of the carriage is provided with a closure or abutment l5 which is hinged to the outer side portion of carriage 6, as indicated by the numeral l6, and means are provided to maintain closure H5 in closed position until the front end of the carriage is in alignment with the second set of rolls. For this purpose, an arcuate-shaped or curved flat metal strip I1 is supported above the carriage by suitable means, such as standards 18, and closure i5 is provided with an upwardly extending pin provided with a roll 20. Pin l9 may be secured to the closure E5 in any desirable manner. It may, for instance, be welded or otherwise secured to a sleeve 2| which, in turn, is welded or otherwise secured to the abutment or closure [5 and during movement of carriage 6 in guideway or track l3, roll 20 bearing against strip I! maintains closure or abutment l5 in a closed position and any excess metal stock from rolls l which stock is designated by the numeral 22, passes outwardly through the space between the upper portion of guideway or track l3 and the metal strip ll. Strip i1, however, terminates a short distance from the second end of the guideway and is bent outwardly therefrom as indicated by the numeral 23, thereby permitting the free end of the metal stock to open abutment or closure I 5 when the front end of carriage 6 is opposite the entrance to rolls 2.

Carriage 6 is preferably formed of an alloy or metal having a high melting point, such as stainless or chrome steel, or it may be formed of a nonferrous metal or alloy, such as bronze or a copper-nickel alloy. As shown, the carriage consists of a curved outer side wall 24, the upper edge of which is inclined downwardly toward the front end of the carriage, an upper wall 25 which is welded or otherwise secured to side wall 24, and

a bottom wall 2'6, which is also secured to side wall 24. As illustrated, the inner edges of the upper and bottom walls 25 and 25 are also slightly curved.

To facilitate the movement-of the carriage 6 in the guideway or track I3, the carriage is provided with front wheels 2'! and 28 and a rear wheel 29 which are pivoted to brackets 30 afiixed to a plate 3|. Plate 3| has upwardly bent end portions which are formed integral with or otherwise secured to a second plate 32 which in turn is welded or otherwise secured to the bottom wall 26 of the carriage and arranged between plates 3! and 32 are three additional rolls 33, 34, and 35, each provided with an outwardy extending flange which flanges are rotatable on pins extending between plates 3| and 32. As illustrated more particularly in Fig. 5, wheels 21, 28 and 29 rotate upon the bottom wall 8 of guideway or track 53, the flanges of rolls 33 and 34 extend beneath flange ii of the guideway, and the flange of roll 35 extends under flange l' of the guideway with the portions of rolls 33 and 34 above their flanges abutting flange i l and the portion of roll 35 above its flange abutting the inner edge of flange 1.

To facilitate the entrance of the free end of the metal stock into the carriage when the carriage is at the first end of the guideway, a metal roll 38 is rotatable on a bolt 31 secured to the inner wall 60 of the guideway and support 5 in advance of flanges H and i of the guideway l3, and to facilitate the exit of the free end of the metal stock from carriage 6, a roll 38 is rotatably mounted on a bolt 39 secured to support 5 and the inner wall [0 of the guideway beyond flanges I and II of guideway i3. Roll 36 is arranged to be engaged by the upturned end of plate 3| of the carriage to limit the movement of the carriage when the carriage is in the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the rear open end of the carriage is in alignment with the first set of rolls, and the forward upturned end of plate 3| engages roll 38 to limit forward movement of the carriage when the carriage reaches the end of its travel. Bolts 31 or 39, or both of them, may be made removable so that the carriage may be withdrawn from the guideway for repairs. Rolls 36 and 38 are also preferably formed of a high meltingpoint metal or alloy.

In accordance with my invention, means are also provided to return carriage 6 to the position shown in Fig. 2 after the metal stock has passed through the carriage. For this purpose, a second track 40 is provided having its upper end secured to a bracket 41 and an intermediate point seowed by suitable means, such as a bolt 42, to wall In of the guideway, and a weight 43 is provided with suitable means, such as a chain 44, which is secured at one end to the weight with its opposite end secured by suitable means, such as a hook, to an apertured lug 45, which in turn is secured to the plate 26 of the carriage by means, such as welding. The weight 43 is preferably formed of a heavy metal, such as lead.

During movement of the carriage from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. l, the force of the metal stock upon the carriage moves the weight 43 up the track 40 and after all the metal stock passes through the carriage, the weight returns the carriage to the position shown in Fig. 2 to align its open end I 4 with the first set of rolls.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 1, a suitable guide 46 is provided to conduct the rolled metal stock from the exit of rolls 1 to the carriage-G and guide 41 is provided to conduct the rolled metal stock from carriage 6 to the entrance of rolls 2' and in a like manner guides and 49, respectively, are provided to convey the rolled metal stock from the exit of rolls 2 to carriage 6a and from the exit of carriage 6a to the entranoe of rolls 3. Similar guides 50' and 5!, respectively, are provided to convey the rolled metal stock from the exit of rolls 3 to the entrance of carriage 76b and from carriage iii) tothe entrance of rolls 4.

What I claim is: I l Mechanism for guiding the free end and bending metal stock moving longitudinally in one direction to direct the continued movement of the free end of the stool; in another direction, comprising a curved track having a first end arranged in proximity to-the path of the longitudinally moving stock and a second end directed toward said other direction, a carriage having a curved side wall, an abutment at one end, and being open at its other end to receive the free end of said-stock, said carriage being mounted on said track for free movement thereon, means urging said carriage to the first end of said track to'position its open end in the path of the longitudinally moving stock, whereby the moving stock will project its free end into said carriage, engage said curved side wall and said abutment and move said carriage around said track to thereby bend said stock and deflect its free end portion toward the other direction, and said abutment being releasable when, said carriage reaches the second end of said track to allow the free end of said stock to pass through said carriage and proceed in the other direction.

2. Mechanism for guiding'the free end and bending metal stock moving longitudinally in one direction todirect the continued movement of the free end of the stock in another direction, comprising acurved track having a first end arranged in proximity to the path of the longitudinally moving stock and a second end directed toward said other direction, a carriage having a curved side wall, an abutment at one end, and being open at the other end, said carriage being mounted on said track for free movement thereon andbeing normally positioned at the first end or said track with its open end in, the path of the longitudinally moving stock, whereby the moving stock will project its free .end into said carriage, engage said curved side wall and said abutment and move said carriage around said track to thereby bend said stock and deflect its free end portion toward the other direction, and said abutment being releasablewhen said carriage reaches the second end of said track to allow the free end of said stock to pass through said carriage and proceed in the other direction.

3. Mechanism for guiding the free end and bending metal stock moving longitudinally in one direction to direct the continued movement of the free end of the stock in another direction, comprising a curved track having a first end arranged in proximity to the path of the longitudinally moving stock and a second end directed toward said other direction, a carriage having a curved side wall, an abutment at one end, and being open at the other end, said carriage being mounted on said track for free movement thereon, means for normally maintaining said carriage at the first end of said track with its open end in the path of the longitudinally moving stock. whereby the moving stock will project its free end intosaid carriage, engage said curved side wall and said abutment and move said carriage around said track to thereby bend ,saidstock and deflect its free end portion toward the other direction, said abutment being releasable when said carriage reaches the second endof said track to allow the free end of said stock to pass through said carriage and proceed in theother direction, andisaid maintaining mean being efiective in automatically returning said carriage to the first end of said track after the metal stock has passed through the carriage.

4. Mechanism for guiding the free end and bending metal stock moving longitudinally in one direction to direct the continued movement of the free end of the stock in another direction, comprising a curved support, a curved track secured to said support having a first end arranged below the path of the longitudinally moving stock and a second end directed toward the other direction, a carriage having a curved side wall, an abutment at one end and being open at its other end to receive the free end of said stock, said carriage being mounted on said track for free movement thereon and being normally positioned at the first end of said track with its open end in the path of the longitudinally moving stock, whereby the moving stock will project its free end into said carriage, engage said curved side wall and said abutment and move said carriage around said track to thereby bend said stock and deflect its free end portion toward the other direction, means associated with said support and said abutment for maintaining said abutment in position against the force of the stock until said carriage approaches the second end of said track which maintaining means becomes ineffective when said carriage approaches the second end of said track to permit the release of said abutment and allow the free end of the stock .to pass through said carriage and proceed in the other direction.

5. Mechanism for guiding the free end and bending metal stock moving longitudinallyin one direction to direct the free end of the metal stock in another direction, comprising a curved support, a similarly curved track secured to said support and having a first end arranged below the path of the longitudinal movin stock and a second end directed toward the other direction, a carriage having a curved side wall and an open end, an abutment for the other end of said carriage provided with an upwardly extending roll, said carriage being mounted on said track for free movement thereon and being normally positioned at the free end of said track with its open endin the path of the longitudinally moving stock, whereby the moving stock will project its free end into said opening, engage said curved wall and said abutment and move said carriage around said track to thereby bend said stock and deflect its free end portion toward the other direction, a curved metal strip secured to said support and extending above said track forengaging the roll on said abutment to maintain said abutment in position against the ,force of the metal stock during the movement of said carriage, and said strip being terminated a short distance from the second end of said track to permit the release of said abutment, thereby allowing the free end and subsequent portions of the stock to pass through said carriage.

6. Mechanism for guiding the free end and bending metal stock moving longitudinally in one direction to direct the continued movement of the free end of the stock in the other direction, comprising a curved support, a similarly curved track secured to said support having a first end arranged below the path of the longitudinally moving stock and a second end directed toward the other direction, a carriage having a curved sidewall, an abutment at one end, and being open at the other end to receive the free end-oi said stock, said carriage being mounted on said track for free movement thereon and being normally positioned at the first end of said track with its open end in the path of the longitudinally moving stock whereby the moving stock will project its free end into said opening, engage the curved wall and said abutment and move said carriage around said track to thereby bend saidstock and deflect its free end portion toward the other direction, said abutment being releasable when said carriage reaches the second end of said track to allow the free end of said stock to pass through said carriage and proceed in the other direction, and a curved metal strip secured to said support and spaced from said track to provide'an opening through which excess metal stock may extend after said carriage reaches the second end of said track.

7. Mechanism for guiding the free end and bending metal stock moving longitudinally in one direction to direct the continued movement of the free end of the stock in the other direction, comprising a curved support, a. similarly curved'track secured to said support having a first end arranged below the path of the longitudinally moving stock and a second end directed toward the other direction, a carriage having a curved side wall, an abutment at one end and being open at the other end to receive the free end of said stock, said carriage being mounted on said track for free movement thereon, means urging said carriage to the first end of said track with its open end in the path'of the longitudinally moving stock whereby the moving stock will project its free end into said opening, engage said curved wall and said abutment and move said carriage around said track to thereby bend said stock and deflect its free end portion toward the other direction, a curved metal strip secured to said support and extending above said track, means connected to said abutment and bearing against said strip to maintain said abutment in position against the force of said stock during movement of said carriage, said strip being terminated a short distance from the second end of said track to permit the release of saidabutment to thereby allow the free end and subsequent portions of said stock to pass through said carriage, and said carriage being returnable to its position at the first end of said track by said urging means after the metal stock has all passed through the carriage.

8. Mechanism for guiding the free end and bending metal stock moving longitudinally in one direction to direct the continued movement of the free'end of the stock in the other direction, comprising a curved track having a first end arranged in proximity to the path of the longitudinally moving stock and a second end directed toward said other direction, a carriage having a curved side wall, an abutment at one end and 8 being open at the other end to receive the free end of the stock, said carriage being mounted on said track for free movement thereon and being normally positioned at the first end of said track with its open end in the path of the longitudinally moving stock, whereby the moving stock will project its free end into said carriage, engage the curved side wall and said abutment and move said carriage around said track to thereby bend said stock and deflect its free end portion toward the other direction, said abutment being releasable when said carriage reaches the second end of said track to allow the free end of said stock to pass through said carriage and proceed in .the other direction, 'and'means for maintaining said carriage on said track including a r011 adjacent the first end of said track and an abutment on the lower portion of said carriage for engagement therewith when the carriage is at the first end of said track and a second roll aflixed to the second end of said track and a second abutment on the lower portion of said carriage for engagement with the second roll when the carriage i at the second end of said track and said first roll being efiective in guiding the metal stock into said carriage and said second roll being effective in guiding the metal stock after it emerges from said carriage.

9. Mechanism as defined in claim 8 in which at least one of said rolls is removable to enable the carriage to be removed from the track.

10. Mechanism for guiding the free end and bending metal stock moving longitudinally in one direction to direct the continued movement of the free end of the stock in the other direction, comprising a curved track having a first end ar-, ranged in proximity to the path of the longitudinally moving stock and a second end directed toward said other direction, a carriage having a curved side wall, an abutment at one end and being open at the other end to receive the free end of said stock, said carriage being mounted on said track and being normally positioned at the first end of said track with its open end in the path of the longitudinally moving stock, whereby the moving stock will project its free end into said carriage, engage the curved side wall and said abutment and move said carriage around said track to thereby bend said stock and deflect its. free end portion toward the other direction, said abutment being releasable when said carriage reaches the second end of said track to allow the free end of said stock to pass through said carriage and proceed in the other direction, and means associated with said carriage and sai track to permit free movement of said carriage on said track during movement of said carriage by the metal stock.

JOSEPH ZUBLENKO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 724,757 Symonds Apr. 7, 1903 946,200 Bragg Jan. 11, 1910 1,977,666 Boddeker et a1 Oct. 23, 1934 2,277,205 Carpenter Mar. 24, 1942 

